News

Third suspect identified in beating of San Jose handyman

By Mark Gomez mgomez@mercurynews.com

Posted:
12/20/2012 08:10:59 AM PST

Updated:
12/20/2012 03:15:51 PM PST

SAN JOSE -- A third person suspected in the alleged kidnapping and assault of a San Jose handyman earlier this month turned himself in to authorities late Wednesday, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.

Richard Rodriguez, 49, of Alameda, surrendered to Alameda police Wednesday at 5 p.m., according to Sgt. Jose Cardoza of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. Investigators had obtained an arrest warrant for Rodriguez stemming from his alleged involvement.

Morgan Hill residents Jason DeJesus, 36, and Chanelle Troedson, 33, were arrested on the day of the incident and have been charged by county prosecutors with five felony counts, including kidnapping during a carjacking, kidnapping to commit robbery, battery, assault and false imprisonment. DeJesus and Troedson are scheduled to make their next court appearance Jan. 4.

Rodriguez is facing charges of battery, assault and false imprisonment, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office.

The 50-year-old handyman from San Jose said he had been in a disagreement with a relative of one of the suspects over not being fully paid for repair work done at a Santa Clara home about two months earlier, according to the Sheriff's Office.

"There was a dispute about services rendered," Cardoza previously told this newspaper. "That in conjunction with him not being paid entirely."

Relatives of the person who had hired the handyman contacted him on Dec. 3 requesting his services at a home on the 200 block of Caldwell Court in unincorporated Morgan Hill.

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Within minutes after the handyman arrived, a man and a woman at the home attacked the him, Cardoza said.

"For the next few hours he's assaulted and had his life threatened numerous times, " said Cardoza, who added that no weapons were used or seen. "He's also forced to do some minor repair work around the house."

Around 5:30 p.m., the victim was forced into his own truck and told they were going to the relative's Santa Clara home to finish the work he'd started two months prior.

The abductors stopped for fuel and food at a gas station near Santa Teresa Boulevard and Cottle Road in San Jose, telling the man he "better stay in the truck" as they went inside to pay.

As soon as the victim had the opportunity, he escaped, Cardoza said.

He ran to a nearby residence and reported what had happened, and responding San Jose police quickly found the pair still in the area. They were arrested and handed over to sheriff's deputies because the original crime happened in unincorporated Morgan Hill.